French flag

White: Represents the traditional colour of the king, symbolizing the monarchy and royal heritage. Blue and Red: Represent the colours of Paris, symbolizing the city and the people. Together, the colours combine warmth and coolness, symbolizing both passion and order. The tricolour represents the unity between the monarchy (white) and the people of Paris (blue and red), born from the French Revolution. It embodies French national identity, having withstood centuries of political upheaval, revolutions, and ideological struggles.

The tricolour flag was born out of the French Revolution, uniting white (the traditional royal colour) with blue and red (the colours of Paris). The flag has endured a turbulent history: From 1814-1830 during the restored monarchy, the blue and red were removed, leaving only the royal white. During the Three Glorious Days revolution (July 27-29, 1830) against Charles X, the tricolour was restored when Louis-Philippe reinstated it, declaring 'The nation has restored its colours.' In 1848, during the Proclamation of the Republic, rebels called for a completely red flag, but Alphonse de Lamartine, poet and politician, defended the tricolour with passionate words and united the crowd to preserve it. The flag has withstood centuries of political upheaval, revolutions, and ideological struggles, becoming deeply ingrained in French national identity.

Three equal vertical stripes arranged from left to right: Blue stripe (hoist side), White stripe (center), Red stripe (fly end). The tricolour design follows a simple vertical stripe pattern with equal proportions. The combination creates a distinctive national symbol that represents the unity of royal tradition (white) with the people of Paris (blue and red), embodying the revolutionary spirit and democratic values of France.

The tricolour flag is flown proudly on all public buildings and plays a central role in official ceremonies, both civilian and military. It is enshrined in Article 2 of the Constitution of the Fifth Republic as the sole official national emblem. The flag appears in art, literature, films, and historic events, serving as a symbol deeply ingrained in French national identity. Standard respectful display and handling protocols apply, with the flag representing France's revolutionary heritage, democratic values, and national unity across centuries of political and social change.